Oklahoma HS wrestling: Edmond North boys break records, win 2024 state tournament title
Layton Schneider looked up to the stands after winning his second straight state tournament title and decided to go for it.
The Edmond North 144-pounder had thought about leaping into the stands after claiming the championship last year, but he didn’t go through with it.
But this is Schneider’s senior season.
He didn’t hold back this time, so he hopped over the wall and gave his mom a hug as Edmond North fans cheered.
“She deserved that hug,” said Schneider, who will continue his career at Air Force and was named the Outstanding Wrestler for Class 6A.
Schneider was one of several standouts for Edmond North on Saturday at State Fair Arena as the Huskies won their second state tournament title and first since 2013. Edmond North finished with 260½ points, which set a state tournament record. The Huskies had 14 state placers, which was also a record, and those 14 each placed at least in the top three.
“To be realistic and think that this could have happened, I don’t think I ever could imagine that,” said Edmond North coach Andy Schneider, Layton’s father. “Best team ever in the history of Oklahoma.”
More: Oklahoma high school wrestling 2024 state championship results
Edmond North had eight boys wrestlers who claimed championships Saturday — junior Jake Goodin (106 pounds), junior Devon Miller (120), Layton Schneider (144), sophomore Joseph Jeter (150), junior Kody Routledge (157), senior Talon McCollom (190), senior Oscar Williams (215) and senior Ricky Thomas (heavyweight).
For Layton, who pinned Broken Arrow senior Kadence Roop in the finals, it was the perfect ending to his high school career.
And after getting his hand raised, he wanted to share the moment with the person who has been there with him through everything.
“I was like, ‘This is my last time ever wrestling in this arena, ever wrestling a high school match,’” he said. “And that means a lot to me and my family. She’s been there through my whole high school career, through the weight cuts and through the ups and downs. And so just having a moment with her just means the world to me.”
Edmond North, which finished with 131 more points than runner-up Bixby, will have several stars graduating, but lots of talent will remain on the roster.
“I think it’s going to be the beginning of a dynasty,” Andy Schneider said. “The legacy they’re going to leave behind, the kids coming up behind have watched them and that’s just going to propel the next group and the next group to try to challenge and do what this group did.”
More: How Edmond North wrestler Taylor Ellis-Hishaw became world MMA champion, 'must-see TV'
Little Axe wins Class 5A girls tournament
The team race in the Class 5A girls tournament was close, but Little Axe did just enough to claim the title.
The Indians finished with 84 points, while Cache and Harrah tied for second place with 76.
This is Little Axe’s first state title in wrestling, boys or girls.
The Indians had two individual state champions, and both are freshmen. Alexus Jones claimed the 130-pound crown, while Chloe Vawter won the title at 235.
“We’ve been a wrestling school, in my mind, for a really long time,” Little Axe coach Brandon Smith said. “We have a lot of people that are still in the community that were former wrestlers that have really fed in, and their daughters are in the program and everybody has just kind of bought in.”
Vawter pinned all three of her opponents at the state tournament.
Jones had some closer battles, winning in sudden victory in the quarterfinals before pinning her opponent in the semifinals and earning a win by decision in the championship.
“It was definitely a long three days, but it was definitely worth it in the end,” Jones said.
Tuttle boys extend state tournament title streak in Class 4A
Tuttle’s two junior Oklahoma State commits each claimed an individual title as the Class 4A Tigers extended their state tournament championship streak to 16.
Beau Hickman, Tuttle’s 144-pounder, won his third championship, while 175-pounder Ethan Teague claimed his second crown and finished the season undefeated.
Tuttle had 165½ points and was well ahead of runner-up Tulsa Cascia Hall, which had 88.
Tuttle’s streak at the state tournament is the longest in state history, and the Tigers’ total number of state tournament championships is up to 21.
“It’s like a family,” said Teague, who went 37-0 this season. “It’s a good place to be a part of.”
Edmond North’s Bella Williams remains undefeated in high school
Edmond North junior Bella Williams was wearing a Hawaiian lei around her neck as she waited to get called to the podium after claiming her third state tournament championship.
A Hawaii native, Williams has only been in Oklahoma for a few years.
Despite that, she’s already getting close to possibly making state history.
Williams remains undefeated in high school following her victory in the finals Saturday. Williams, who pinned Tulsa Union sophomore Terrilan Banner for the Class 6A 140-pound championship, went 34-0 this year and has a chance of becoming Oklahoma’s first undefeated four-time state champion in girls wrestling.
One of the top wrestlers in the nation, Williams often competes against girls outside of the state, and finishing undefeated at Edmond North is setting in as a realistic possibility for her.
“Something that definitely keeps me grounded is losing in other places,” Williams said. “It’s definitely something I’ve thought about.”
Williams wasn’t the only one in her family who claimed a state championship Saturday. Her older brother, Oscar, won the 215-pound crown on the boys side. A senior, Oscar will continue his career at Maryland.
Bella Williams also isn’t the only girls wrestler from her school who went undefeated this season.
Taylor Ellis-Hishaw won the 125-pound championship and finished her junior year with a 27-0 record.
Bixby’s Gage Walker, Collinsville’s Canon Acklin, Sperry's Brady Benham become 4-time state champs
Only a few seconds separated two wrestlers who joined elite company Saturday.
Just after Bixby 126-pounder Gage Walker sealed a win in Class 6A, Canon Acklin of Collinsville did the same across the arena in the Class 5A 126-pound match. In doing so, the two became four-time state champions. And later in the night, Sperry star and Iowa signee Brady Benham joined them as he beat Hinton junior Kyle Harrall in a 5-0 decision.
Walker, who will continue his career at Missouri, beat Stillwater sophomore Julio Aguirre in a 9-1 major decision. Acklin, an Iowa State signee, won with a 1-0 decision against Coweta freshman Legend Ellis.
“It just feels great just ‘cause I put in the work since I was a little kid,” Walker said. "All of the long hours, all of the hard work, pushing myself to failure — it all paid off.”
There are now 48 boys wrestlers who have won four state championships.
Other standout performances
● Bixby claimed the Class 6A girls title. The Spartans barely won as they finished with 90 points, just ahead of Edmond North (89½) and Tulsa Union (88). This is the second straight year the Edmond North girls have lost by just ½ point at the state tournament. Last season, they finished in a tie with Bixby for second place with 63 points, while Tulsa Union won with 63½.
● Class 5A Elgin claimed its first state tournament title. The Owls, who have won two straight dual state crowns, had 95½ points and were followed by Chickasha (80) and Coweta (79).
● Marlow won the Class 3A championship. The Outlaws now have nine overall. They had 175 points as they finished ahead of defending champion Blackwell (160) and Pawnee (56½).
Nick Sardis covers high school sports for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Nick? He can be reached at nsardis@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @nicksardis. Sign up for The Varsity Club newsletter to access more high school coverage. Support Nick's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma HS wrestling: Edmond North breaks records, wins state tourney
